SPENCER RIPCHIK

Sovereignty trains before the running of the Belmont Stakes horse race in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Belmont at Saratoga is a draw, but keeping the Triple Crown relevant remains a concern
The second Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in upstate New York is a draw for avid fans, given the track’s place in horse racing history and a nod to its roots. But the debate continues about how to keep the Triple Crown relevant for a casual audience.
 
Dornoch, (6), with Luis Saez up, crosses the finish line ahead of Mindframe (10), with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, to win the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Dornoch pulls off an upset to win the first Belmont Stakes run at Saratoga Race Course at 17-1
Dornoch has won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. His victory made it the sixth consecutive year a different horse won each of the three Triple Crown races.
 
A horse works out ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Belmont at Saratoga means shortening the 3rd Triple Crown race, but most are OK with that
The Belmont Stakes will be run at 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2-mile distance that has long distinguished the third leg of the Triple Crown.
 
Jaime Torres, left, atop Seize The Grey, crosses the finish line in front of Flavien Prat, center, atop Catching Freedom, and Brian Hernandez, Jr., atop Mystik Dan, while winning the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Seize the Grey draws inside post for the Belmont. Derby runner-up Sierra Leone is favored
Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey drew post position No. 1, and Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan will start in post No. 3 for the 156th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
 
FILE — A fog burns off as the sun rises over the Oklahoma Training Track, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Aug. 26, 2005. Venerable Saratoga Race Course adds to its mystique and tradition by hosting the Belmont Stakes for the next two years. The track that predates the end of the U.S. Civil War has never before hosted a Triple Crown race. (AP Photo/Rick Gargiulo, File)
Historic Saratoga takes its place at center of horse racing world when Belmont Stakes comes to town
Saratoga Race Course is getting ready to be the center of the horse racing world when the Belmont Stakes comes to town. It will be the venerable racing city’s first Triple Crown race.
 
Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) reacts during the third quarter of a Sweet Sixteen round college basketball game against the Oregon State during the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Notre Dame star Hidalgo forced to remove nose piercing, misses time in Sweet 16 loss to Oregon State
Notre Dame star freshman Hannah Hidalgo was forced to remove her nose piercing and miss time in her team’s 70-65 loss to Oregon State in the Sweet 16. It was that kind of day for Hidalgo, who scored just 10 points despite averaging 22.9 per game.
 
Fans walk through a tunnel of digital screens during NFL Experience ahead of Super Bowl 58, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Kansas City Chiefs will play the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Pricey Super Bowl: Some NFL fans pass on expensive tickets and just have ‘a good time’ in Vegas
Super Bowl ticket prices remain out of reach for many fans who made travel reservations months ago to come to Las Vegas this week and so they’ll likely be watching on TV Sunday like millions of others.
 
El Segundo, Calif.'s Jaxon Kalish (22) takes a photo with the team and the championship banner after they defeated Needville, Texas, in the United States Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Little League World Series: Curacao and California to square off in the final
California will take on Curacao in the Little League World Series championship on Sunday after both teams worked their way into the title game from the elimination bracket. Curacao didn’t have an easy path to the championship.
 
Curacao's Jay-Dlynn Wiel celebrates after scoring during the fourth inning of the International Championship baseball game against Taiwan at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Curacao defeats Taiwan 2-0 in Little League World Series semifinal
Jay-Dlynn Wiel and Nasir El-Ossais got back-to-back singles off Taiwanese ace Fan Chen-Jun and later scored, leading Curacao to a 2-0 victory over Taiwan on Saturday in the semifinals of the Little League World Series.
 
Taiwan starting pitcher Cai Yuan-Hao (8) delivers a pitch against Curacao during the first inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Can Taiwan get back to the top at Little League World Series? Curacao is next obstacle
Taiwan will face Curacao on Saturday to see which team will represent the international bracket in the Little League World Series championship, after Taiwan cruised to the tournament semifinal and Curacao managed to get through with just one loss.
 
With Ohtani as a model, pitchers at Little League World Series like hitting
You might call them the little Ohtanis. Talk to the players and coaches at the Little League World Series and in the “favorite MLB player” conversation American League MVP frontrunner Shohei Ohtani gets a lot of love.
 
Everybody hits! No, really, everyone gets a turn at bat at the Little League World Series
Little League coaches have long been saying “Everybody hits!” to rally their teams. The old phrase is a lot truer this year. Batting format has changed at this year’s Little League World Series and throughout all of Little League.
 
El Segundo, Calif.'s Louis Lappe (19) leaps onto home plate after hitting a solo home run off New Albany, Ohio's Kevin Klingerman during the third inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
California’s rally, Taiwan’s perfect game highlight Little League World Series
California came into the Little League World Series looking like a contender on the American side of the bracket.
 
This photo provided by Caleb Craig shows Alfredo Despaigne leading his Cuban teammates as they arrive at Penn College for the Little League World Series picnic in Williamsport, Pa., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. They’ve been hosting a Little League World Series around here since 1947, but they’ll be welcoming a new guest when the tournament starts Wednesday – Cuba. (Caleb Craig via AP)
Cuba is in the Little League World Series for the first time. It’ll debut vs Japan on Wednesday
Little League has been hosting its World Series in Williamsport since 1947, yet it will be welcoming a new guest when the tournament starts Wednesday — Cuba.